Island layouts

[doctorwayne]

Sure, modular can be flexible. But what would be the specific advantage of having a hub-and-spoke (or "plus" or "star") shape layout with a fixed center and a fixed number of flexible arms, compared with just putting together flexible modules in whatever pattern happened to fit the desired purpose at any given time - long and narrow, doughnut-shaped or generic "octopus" shaped or whatever ?

I was viewing it more to suit MountainMan's seeming preference for an island-type layout, and one that, because of room shape and features, was fairly restrictive as to layout placement. So all of the various interchangeable modules would be restricted in size and shape, and would always be assembled in the same configuration. The layout size and shape wouldn't vary, but the theme of the layout could.

Anyways - what MountainMan actually does have room for in his layout room without blocking access to all the doors etc he needs access to (unless he has changed layouts rooms since the last time this was discussed, in March 2009) is an L-shaped N scale layout where one part is about 5 x 7 foot and the other part is about 2.5 x 6.5 feet, fit into the room in such a way that two adjoining sides of the 2.5 x 6.5 part is up against walls.

Charlie drew it like this back in March 2009:

http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/download/...hp?id=1758

Seems like a reasonable footprint for a room that size and shape.

Grin,
Stein

You're right: that design fits well within the design parameters, and would be a lot easier to build. The only change which I would make is to round-off the layout corners - the small loss in layout "real estate" would make navigating around the layout even easier, and the layout less of an "intrusion" into the room.

Wayne